By Emily Miller
For the first time ever, starting on Jan. 1, individuals who are at high risk for developing lung cancer may be eligible for screening at no out-of-pocket cost, according to the American Lung Association.
Those who could be eligible for early detection screening without any additional cost to them include:
· Most people with private insurance
· Individuals who are enrolled in their state health insurance marketplace
· People enrolled in state Medicaid expansion
According to the ALA, individuals who are enrolled in state health marketplace plans, Medicaid-expansion programs or those with non-grandfathered private insurance plans who are categorized as high-risk will have insurance coverage for screening without co-payments or other barriers starting the first of the year.
For more information regarding edibility, the ALA has created an easy-to-read chart that can be found on their website.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both men and women in the U.S. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients is only 17.8 percent.
With this health improvement, an annual low-dose screening test for individuals at a high risk has the potential to dramatically improve lung cancer survival rates by finding the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage.
The following individuals are considered to be of high risk for developing lung cancer and could potentially be eligible for cancer screening:
· 55 through 80 years of age
· Have a 30 pack-year history of smoking (meaning one pack a day for 30 years, two packs a day for 15 years, etc.)
· Current smoker, or have quit within the last 15 years
· Has a family history of lung cancer
If you meet this high-risk criteria, the American Lung Association recommends that you talk to your doctor about screening and check with your health insurance provider to see it your coverage includes cancer screening.
